195. Blueberry 88
178

196. Site Selection Blueberry
pH 4.0 to 5.5
Full sun and well drained
Sandy loam with added organic matter - ideal
Avoid frost-prone areas Control weeds
bermudagrass
wild blackberries 89
179

197. pH Requirement Blueberry
Soil test to determine pH
To lower pH:
Add S 90
180

198. Lbs of S/100 ft2 to lower soil pH one unit
Sulfur/pH Table
Lbs of S/100 ft2 to lower soil pH one unit
Sand: 1.0 to 1.5
Loam: 2.0 to 3.0
Clay: to 4.0
181

199. Blueberry Types Highbush Rabbiteye Southern Highbush
Photo: Steven Clemants, Westchester Co., NY.
Southern Highbush

200. Highbush Blueberry 5 to 25 feet tall Ripens in May
Requires 800 hours chilling
Performs best in northern Oklahoma

201. Rabbiteye Blueberry 5 to 20 feet tall Ripen in May and early June
Requires 150 to 600 hours chilling
Performs best in central and southern Oklahoma
More heat tolerant

202. Southern Highbush Blueberry
Intermediate between highbush and rabbiteye
Ripen about 3 weeks earlier than rabbiteye
Should perform well throughout Oklahoma

203. Planting and Culture Blueberry
Plant mid-January to late March
Plant 2 year old container-grown plants - 12 to 16 inches in height
Plant two or more varieties
Set plants approximately 5 feet apart
Set plants without washing soil from roots

204. Fertilizing Established Blueberries
Ammonium N better than nitrate N
Apply N in small applications
once before bloom
once after bloom
once in fall
Apply P and K according to soil test
Apply fertilizer uniformly within dripline
Avoid the base of the plant

205. Pruning Blueberries Summer pruning Remove broken and diseased branches
Prune soon after harvest to control size of bush
Winter pruning
Remove dead, diseased, deranged and dying canes
Thin healthy canes: 6 to 10 main canes per plant
Tip remaining canes to maintain convenient height

206. Diseases of Blueberry 93
190

207. Mummy Berry Disease Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi Blueberry
Berries shrivel and turn pinkish Fall to ground and turn brown
Favored by cold wet weather
Infects very young tissue
Source of innoculum
Infected fruit mummies on ground

208. Phytophthora Root Rot Phytophthora cinnamomi Blueberry
Early symptoms:
Yellowing of leaves
Small terminal leaves
Lack of new growth
Excessive defoliation 95
192

209. Phytophthora Root Rot Phytophthora cinnamomi Blueberry
Root system discolored
Brown to black epidermis
Uniform light brown discoloration of vascular tissue
Control: Avoid poorly drained areas
Apply metalaxyl soil fungicide

210. Stem Cankers Blueberry
Pathogens: Botryosphaeria, Gloeosporium, Phomopsis
Occur periodically in Oklahoma
Symptoms: Discolored lesions on stems
Infected stems eventually wilt and die 96
194

211. Blueberry Disease Control Spray Schedule
Delayed dormant - just before bud break
Mid-bloom
First post-pollination - about May 25 to June 1
Second post-pollination days after first post-pollination
Cover sprays - beginning 7-12 days after second post-pollination continue as needed on a 7-12 day schedule. 97
195

212. Blueberry Insects Scale Delayed dormant Just before bud break
Dormant pruning
Foliar sprays for crawlers
Reduced vigor
Uncontrolled - death

213. Blueberry Insects Leafrollers Season long pest Foliar sprays Removal
Not serious pest

214. Blueberry Insects Leafhoppers Stippling Chlorosis Hopperburn
Young leaves
Young trees

215. Blueberry Insects Leaf Miners Adult deposits eggs
Larvae feeds on foliage
Post pollination
Cover sprays

216. Blueberry Insects Cherry Fruitworm Eggs laid on fruit
Larvae bore into fruit
Brown trails
Distorted fruit
Well timed sprays

217. Blueberry Insects
Aphids
Sap suckers
Distorted leaves
Honeydew

218. Blueberry Insects Plum Curculio Early season pest Attacks fruit
Crescent scars
Fruit drop

219. Blueberry Insects Blueberry Maggot Most important pest
Larvae feed inside berry
1 per berry
Flies emerge in June
Most severe
Following cold winter
Wet conditions at harvest
Spray every 10 days when flies begin egg laying

220. Blueberry Harvest Limited production first year
Mature plants produce 14
to 23 pints depending on
pruning and variety
Cluster does not ripen evenly: Harvest individual berries
Ripe berry is uniformly blue
Harvest every 5 to 7 days

221. Acknowledgements
Appreciation is extended to the following for the use of some images contained in the Backyard Fruit Production Program:
Michigan State Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
Ohio State University Cooperative Extension Service
Oregon State Cooperative Extension Service
Texas Cooperative Extension Service
West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service

222. Backyard Fruit Production
Program developed by:
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Oklahoma State University
Susan Gray, County Extension Educator, Horticulture
Phil Pratt, Area Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology
Jim Shrefler, Area Extension Specialist, Horticulture
Bill Stacey, Area Extension Specialist, Entomology